Gentlemen,

Thank you for your recent answers on medical/eyesight/keratoconus issues
and the recommendation to take it to the AOPA. This sounds like a
winner which I'll pursue.

Since I don't anticipate being able to actually pay real money to fly a
real bird and pursue my ticket until earl-ish in '07 I'd nonetheless
like to gain a little experience with the instruments and flight
characteristics. Keep in mind that from skydiving I would estimate that
I have (based on avg climb to jump altitude) about 150hrs in
C-182/205-6/210 + 150hrs in Twin Otters + 150hrs in King Air/Twin
Bo...all as passenger but usually I'm up front (video guy) and paying
attention...and I have spent some time in the right seat (and flown) the
182/210 and the Twin Otter. I have some feel for the aircraft. On the
humorous hand I have only a handful of landings in any aircraft from the
right seat or anywhere else in the aircraft come to think of it. Remind
me to tell you guys what happens in Cessna 402(?) (twin- low wing,
business, tiny door) when you stick 9 jumpers + 1 pilot + full fuel +
August in Houston + no wind (can you say air density altitude? g).

Would something like Microsoft's Flight Simulator be a benefit to
familiarization? Or would it be a detriment to overcome when training
actually starts?

Thanks again and blue skies!

Richard Smith
D-11950